Folding crate.



No. 699,078. Patented Apr. 29, |902.-

n. vLlfmlrrfm FOLDING CITATE.

Application Bled .Tan` 3, 1902.) (llo Modell.) 2 Sheets-Sheet L E- *swg* fno. 699,079. Patented Apr. 29, |902. n; B. cHmTToN.-

FULDING CRATE.

(Application tiled JAn. 3, 1.902.)

THE [comps Prrins o.. vHoToLl'rHo.. was-nunon; n. e.

. sition they occupy preparatory to'foldiu g up.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ormes.

ROBERT B. CIfIRITTON, vOF,(ENID,OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

Fo LDlNc CRATE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Lettersratent N0. 699,078, dated April 29, 1902.

A Application filed January 3, 1902. Serial No. 38,300. (No model.)

To @ZL whom, t may concern:

Be it known that'I, ROBERT B. QHRrrToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Enid, in the county ofGarfleld and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a new Aand useful` Folding Crate, of which the following isa specification. A y

This invention relates to folding crates particularly adapted for yuse in shipping poultry.

The object ofthe invention is to provide a simply-cons tructed and thoroughlyefficient form of folding crate vwhich is adapted tobe folded into compact form for return shipment and wherein the parts shall be so disposed as mutually to brace and strengthen each other when the crate is set upfor' use.

With these and other objects inpview, as will appear as the n ature `of" the invention is better understood, the same consists infthe novel construction and combination of parts of a folding crate, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.'

vIn the accompanying drawings, forming a part Vof this specification, and inwhich like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated a form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elementsltherein exhibited may be Varied or'changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the scopeof the in-.:

vention, and'in the drawings;

Figure 1 is a -view in perspective exhibiting the crate setup for use, one of thetop slats or bars beingshown partly withdrawn to permit insertion of thearm within the crate for the removal of poultry. Fig.-2 is a view in perspective showing one side and end in the position they occupy when the crate is' set up and theother side and end in the pothe crate. Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section showing-.the'position occupied by they parts when the crate is folded up forreshipment. Fig. 4.is a fragmentarydetail View showing .the connection between two of the members.v y

The crate of the present invention comprises a bottom 1, preferably composed of slats, two ends 2, adapted to fold inward on the bottom, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and

lof the crate are by preference constructed of slats, although, if preferred, the sides, ends, and .top may be made paritlyofwood and partly of woven or meshed wire, lsuch as commonly'employed in connection With'c'rates of this character, andas this will be obvious detailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. Themembers 3 of the sides are rigidly associated with the bottom and are positively held fronr'inward movement bycross-braces 6, as clearly shown in Figs@ 1 and 2. The ends of the side members carry cleats 7, which not onlysubserve the function of shielding these partsk from injury and giving added rigidity tothe structure, but also serve as a means for holding the slats constituting the parts assembled at the proper distance apart,

the means of attachment between the cleats "and the slats being through the agency of jnails or rivets 8. sociated with the side members 4 through 'the medium of ordinary strap-hinges 9, which The topmembers 5 are asare bypreference let into the'slats of the parts with which they'coact, therebyto obviate the presentation of Aan obstructionvand to permitA the parts being folded as close together as possible, the members 4 of the sides being hinged to the members?) by providing the cleats carried by the members 4 with extensions 10, which work between the cleats of the members 3 and the ends of the top slats thereof and are held associated therewith by nails or screws 11, that hold the upperends ofl the crossbraces `@associated with thesides. The opposed ends of the cleats of the members 3 and .4 on the side of the crate are outturned to present stops 12, which operate to limit outward movement of the members `4,las will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 1.

lThe ends 2 are held associated with the bottorn-by ordinary hinges 13, and the top slat or bar of each end is provided witha plurality of tenons 14, adapted to lit `betweei'rfthe slats of the top sections, thereby tohold'these rigidly associated with the said'ends.

One of the top sections is-providedwith a detachable slat 15, by which to permit of insertion of the arm into the crate for removing poultry, andsuitable fastening means, as a IOO bolt 16, to interlock with an opening in the top slat of each end section, thereby to hold the top sections against being accidentally opened.

The under side of the end of each of the slats of the top sections is rabbeted at 17 to present stops 18 to engage with the under sides of the top slats of the ends, thereby securely locking the said ends against inward movement when the top sections are bolted down in position, so that all danger of collapse of the crate in being shipped or handled Will in a positive manner be obviated.

To connect and `brace the slats of the ends, cleats 19 are employed, which are held associated with the ends by rivets or nails 20.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that by reason of the manner in which the sides are constructed that the crate when folded up will occupy but small space and that when set up all of the parts thereof op-V erate mutually to brace each other, so that a crate constructed in accordance with this in- Vention will be of the highest efti'ciency and durability in use and may be manufactured and sold at a low figure.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Acrate comprisinga bottom, ends hinged thereto and adapted to fold inward thereon, and three-membered sides, the lower member of each being rigidly associated with the bot tom and diagonally braced against inward movement, the intermediate members being hinged to the bottom members and held against outward movement in a vertical line, and the upper members being adapted to fold over and interlock with the ends and to constitute the top sections.

2. In a crate, ends cutaway to provide tenons at their upper edges, in combination with top sections adapted to fold over on the ends and to engage the tenons, the under sides of the ends of the top section being cut away to provide rabbets to interlock with the top portion of the ends and bear against the inner surfaces thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a crate, the combination with a bottom, of ends hinged thereto, three-membered sides carried by the bottom, and reinforcing cleats carried by the end portions of the sides, and having iianged projections to constitute stops to limit the outward movement of the sides, substantially as described;

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I havehereto axed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT B. CHRITTON,

Vitnesses:

J. STEWART, T. REDFERN. 

